What is the difference GIS and CAD

Computer Aided Design, referred to as CAD, is used for a variety of computer-aided design, widely used in machinery, construction, engineering and product design. GIS is a CAD developed on the basis of a discipline, design graphics are also important functions of GIS.

CAD and GIS-close. Both have a coordinate reference system, can describe and process graphics data, but also be able to handle attribute data. The fundamental difference is that the use of different purposes, resulting in the functional and data organization, etc. on the difference.
The purpose from the use of terms, CAD mapping and expression in primary bias, but more emphasis on GIS to solve space problems. Therefore, CAD graphics editor more powerful, with a strong layout and graphics capabilities, GIS’s core function is spatial analysis. GIS graphics than the CAD data has a stronger semantics, manifested in: (1) attribute is more enriched; (2) The topological relations between spatial objects more; (3) data is more mass.

The purpose of the different applications has also led to differences in the way data organizations. GIS spatial data can be elements of data types and features in hierarchical organizations, to avoid redundancy.